Metal Detector, Vibration, Linear and Rotational Speed and Position Measurement Device Using a Smartphone or Sound Player/Recorder Instrument

ABSTRACT

This invention presents a novel metal detector device and method that employs the performance of the current compact sound recorder/player systems such as Tape/CD/DVD players, MP3 players, Cell phones, Tablets, Laptops to make a compact metal detector. This invention also enables the use of said sound recorder/player systems for precise Vibration, Linear and Rotational Speed and Position Measurements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional application No.62/592,421, filed on Nov. 30, 2017.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Metal detectors require costly, precise analog and digital circuits foraccurate timing, detection, analysis, and alarming/monitoring process. Acomplex metal detector system has a large physical volume, heavy weight,and requires time consuming production, calibration, and test process.While the current metal detection technologies are known for their highproduction and maintenance costs, the issue of the weight and volumeseriously limits their application. This invention presents a novelmetal detector device and method that employs the performance of thecurrent compact sound recorder/player systems such as Tape/CD/DVDplayers, MP3 players, Cell phones, Tablets, Laptops to make a compactmetal detector. This invention also enables the use of said soundrecorder/player systems for precise Vibration, Linear and RotationalSpeed and Position Measurements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention introduces a metal detector device and a metal detectingtechnology to use the input and/or output channel(s) of a wave or soundrecorder/player devices such as a Tape/CD/DVD player, MP3 player, Cellphone, Tablet, Laptop, or computer to energize the transmitter coil(s)of an electromagnetic detector. This invention also includes a novelmeasurement technique to use the input or microphone input channel(s) ofthe sound player/recorder device such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop,or computer to measure the signal of the receiver coil(s). The detectormay employ the processing system of the sound player/recorder device forsignal processing and uses its display, vibrator, or other actuators forshowing the result or alarming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, Illustrate the possible windingforms of transmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of the detector. FIG.1A shows the coils can have any winding form of a solenoid or equalradius disc coil. FIG. 1B shows the coils can have any winding form of aspiral or same plane coil. FIG. 1C shows the coils can have any windingform of a combination of solenoid or equal radius coil(s) and spiral orsame plane coil(s). FIG. 1D shows the coils can have any winding form ofan arbitrary winded organized or non-organized shaped coil.

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H,FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K, Illustrate the possible geometrical crosssection shape of transmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of thedetector. FIG. 2A shows the geometrical cross section shape oftransmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of the detector as circle. FIG.2B shows the geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) orreceiver coil(s) of the detector as elliptical or oval. FIG. 2C showsthe geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) or receivercoil(s) of the detector as rectangle. FIG. 2D shows the geometricalcross section shape of transmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of thedetector as square. FIG. 2E shows the geometrical cross section shape oftransmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of the detector as semi-circleor half circle. FIG. 2F shows the geometrical cross section shape oftransmitter coil(s) or receiver coil(s) of the detector assemi-elliptical or semi-oval or half elliptical or half oval. FIG. 2Gshows the geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) orreceiver coil(s) of the detector as rectangle with fillet corner. FIG.2H shows the geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) orreceiver coil(s) of the detector as square with fillet corner. FIG. 2Ishows the geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) orreceiver coil(s) of the detector as triangle. FIG. 2J shows thegeometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) or receivercoil(s) of the detector as triangle with fillet corner. FIG. 2K showsthe geometrical cross section shape of transmitter coil(s) or receivercoil(s) of the detector as a combination of two or more numbers of saidshapes or any arbitrary shape.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, FIG. 3E, FIG. 3F, are top viewdiagrams projected in one plane, showing the possible orientation of thecoils of the detector in an embodiment with one transmitter coil and onereceiver coil. FIG. 3A shows two coils have no overlap in the projectedplane. FIG. 3B shows two coils have at least one tangential point in theprojected plane. FIG. 3C shows two coils have two overlap points in theprojected plane. FIG. 3D shows the transmitter coil fits inside thereceiver coil in the projected plane. FIG. 3E shows the receiver coilfits inside the transmitter coil in the projected plane. FIG. 3F showstwo coils with the shape different than FIG. 3A, have no overlap in theprojected plane.

FIG. 4A illustrates the simplest form of the detector where thetransmitter coil is energized by a sound playing device and the signalis measured by a measurement device. FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of thedetector where a music player and recorder device energizes thetransmitter coil and also measures the signal of the receiver coil.

FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the detector where a sound or musicplayer and recorder device with a stereo (two channel) audio output isemployed to energize two transmitter coils and measures the signal ofthe receiver coil. FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of the detector where asound or music player and recorder device with a stereo (two channel)audio output is employed to energize one transmitter coil and measuresthe signal of the receiver coil

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D, FIG. 6E, FIG. 6F, FIG. 6G, and FIG.6H are top view diagram in the projected plane, showing the possibleorientation of any two coils of the detector in an embodiment with twotransmitter coils and one receiver coil. FIG. 6A shows two transmittercoils have no overlap point in the projected plane and each transmittercoil has two overlap points with the receiver coil in the projectedplane. FIG. 6B shows two transmitter coils have at least one overlappoint in the projected plane and each transmitter coil has two overlappoints with the receiver coil in the projected plane. FIG. 6C shows twotransmitter coils have two overlap points in the projected plane andeach transmitter coil has two overlap points with the receiver coil inthe projected plane. FIG. 6D shows two transmitter coils have no overlappoint in the projected plane and transmitter coils fit inside thereceiver coil in the projected plane. FIG. 6E shows two transmittercoils have at least one overlap point in the projected plane andtransmitter coils fit inside the receiver coil in the projected plane.FIG. 6F shows two transmitter coils have two overlap points in theprojected plane and transmitter coils fit inside the receiver coil inthe projected plane. FIG. 6G shows two transmitter coils have twooverlap points in the projected plane and receiver coil fits inside thetransmitter coils in the projected plane. FIG. 6H shows an embodimentanalogous to the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 Shows an example of practical embodiment for the detectorstructure shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a complex embodiment of the detector with M=4 and N=2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In its simplest form, this detector device and detection methodcomprises at least a transmitter coil 101 in any form of wire loop withair or any magnetic or non magnetic core connected to an externaloscillator or connected to at least one of the sound output channels ofa sound or music player/recorder device 104. The sound player/recorderdevice 104 can be just a player such as a CD player, MP3 player, Videoplayer with sound output, or it may be a sound player and recorderdevice such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, computer, smart TV or anydevice with ability to record and play the sound, voice, or music.

The transmitter coil 101 can have any winding form of a solenoid orequal radius disc coil (FIG. 1A), spiral or same plane coil (FIG. 1B), acombination of solenoid or equal radius coil(s) and spiral or same planecoil(s) (FIG. 1C), or any arbitrary winded organized or non-organizedshaped coil (FIG. 1D). As shown in Figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,the transmitter coil 101 can have any geometrical cross section shapesuch as: circle, semi-circle, half circle, elliptical or oval,semi-elliptical or semi-oval, half elliptical or half oval, square,square with fillet corner, rectangle, rectangle with fillet corner,triangle, triangle with fillet corner, a combination of two or morenumbers of the said shapes, or any arbitrary shape.

This detector device and detection method is also comprising at least areceiver coil 102 in any form of wire loop with air or any magnetic ornon magnetic core connected to at least one signal measurement device103 or to at least one of the sound input (microphone) channels of asound player/recorder device 104 to measure its received signal 106.Signal measurement is defined as the measurement of the amplitude of thevoltage/current/power/energy (or any other parameter such as RMSrepresenting the amplitude) in single or multiple frequencies or phaseof the voltage/current/power/energy or both amplitude and phase of thevoltage/current/power/energy in single or multiple frequencies orfrequency measurement of the signal. The receiver coil 102 can have anywinding form as shown in figures FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D andany geometrical cross section shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG.2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG.2J, FIG. 2K.

The signal measurement device 103 can be a simple analog or digital voltmeter, amp meter, power meter, or energy meter, or it may be anyactuator or indicator that indicates the existence or variation of avoltage or current or power or energy in receiver coil 102. Examples ofsignal measurement device 103 are: lamp, LED, Headphone, speaker,electromagnetic actuators, and piezo buzzer/actuator.

The music player device 104 sends a continuous or discrete signal 105 tothe output channel connected to the transmitter coil 101. Thetransmitted signal 105 may have any waveform of Sinusoidal, square,rectangle, triangle, pulse, ramp, saw-tooth, or any arbitrary wave form.The said transmitted signal may have a single constant frequency or itmay have a time varying frequency, or it may be composed of acombinations of more than one signals with the same or differentfrequencies or same or different phases or same or different amplitudeor any arbitrary periodic or time-varying wave function. For an example,the said transmitted signal may be composed of 15 Sinusoidal signalswith same or different amplitudes, frequencies, and phases. The saidtransmitted signal may also include a DC component (DC offset).

The transmitter coil 101 and the receiver coil 102 can be placed in thesame plane or different planes preferably (not necessarily) parallelplanes. In top view, the orientation of transmitter coil with respect tothe receiver coil may be in any form of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG.3D, FIG. 3E: two coils completely separate as shown in FIG. 3A or with acommon side (FIG. 3B), or with an overlap (FIG. 3C), or the transmittercoil 101 completely inside the receiver coil 102 (FIG. 3D), or thereceiver coil 102 completely inside the transmitter coil 101 (FIG. 3E).It must be emphasized that figures FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D,FIG. 3E, FIG. 3F, only show the orientation of the coils with respect toeach other not the shape of the coils or its winding, the coils are notnecessarily in circular shape and may have any wire winging as shown infigures FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D and any shape as shown infigures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G,FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K. For example, FIG. 3F shows the sameorientation as shown in FIG. 3A, so the orientation shown in FIG. 3A isanalogous of the orientation shown in FIG. 3F.

One or more optional transmitter interface device 107 can be placedbetween the transmitter coil 101 and the sound player/recorder device104. The transmitter interface device 107 can be an amplifier orpre-amplifier to amplify the transmitted signal 105 or it can be animpedance matching device to enable the connection of the music playerdevice 104 to the transmitter coil 101, or it may be both impedancematching device and amplifier device. For example the transmitterinterface device 107 can be a transformer or an op-amp based amplifieror a combination of a transformer and an op-amp based amplifier, or aswitching ac to ac converter.

One or more optional receiver interface device 108 can be placed betweenthe receiver coil 102 and the sound player/recorder 104. The receiverinterface device 108 can be an amplifier or pre-amplifier to amplify thereceived signal 106 or it can be an impedance matching device to enablethe connection of the input of music player device 104 to the receivercoil 102, or it may be both impedance matching device and amplifierdevice. For example the receiver interface device 108 can be atransformer or an op-amp based amplifier or a combination of atransformer and an op-amp based amplifier.

FIG. 4A illustrates the simplest form of the detector where thetransmitter coil is energized by a sound playing device 104 and thesignal is measured by the measurement device. It must be noted that inthis Figure the connection of the ground wire is not shown, the groundwire may be common between all units of the circuit or it may beisolated between different parts. The detector can also be practiced inthe form of FIG. 4B where a sound/music player and recorder device 104energizes the transmitter coil 101 and also measures the signal of thereceiver coil 102. It must be noted that both FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B showthe circuit diagram of the detector device. The winding, physical shape,and orientation of transmitter coil 101 and receiver coil 102 may haveany variation introduced in figures FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D,FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H,FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 3D, FIG. 3E,FIG. 3F.

The absolute value of the phase or amplitude of the received signal 106or the variation of the phase or amplitude of the received signal 106 isan indicator for existence of a metal in proximity of the coils. Thedirection of the phase shift of the received signal 106 and the amountof the phase shift are used for discrimination of the metal type andapproximation of its material structure and estimation of the targetdistance.

While the detector embodiments of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are practical anduseful because of their simplicity, they require initial adjustments.Such an example, to achieve a high precision long range detection, theshape of coils, their orientation, or distance must be preciselyadjusted. In the embodiments of FIG. 4B, the direct transfer of signalfrom the output audio channel of the sound playing/recording device 104to its input (microphone) channel affects the detector's performance. Toaddress these issues, the detector embodiment of FIG. 5A is preferred.In the detector embodiment as shown in FIG. 5A a sound player/recorderdevice 104 with at least a stereo (two channel) audio output isemployed. The Left output channel energizes one of the transmitting coil101A and the Right output channel energizes the other transmitting coil101B. It must be noted that the Left transmitting coil and righttransmitting coil are not necessarily identical; but, there is nosignificant advantage in employing two non-identical transmitting coils.So, in the preferred embodiment of the detector, two ideally identicaltransmitting coil 101 are used. Obviously, two transmitting coils whenmade with the same process/material/dimension cannot be practicallyidentical because of the tolerance in manufacturing and other physicalconditions.

The transmitted signal applied to the Left or Right audio channels mayhave any waveform of Sinusoidal, square, rectangle, triangle, pulse,ramp, saw-tooth, or any arbitrary wave form. The transmitted signal mayhave a single constant frequency or it may have a time varyingfrequency, or it may be composed of a combinations of more than onesignals with the same or different frequencies or same or differentphases or same or different amplitude or any arbitrary periodic ortime-varying wave function. The transmitted signal may also include a DCcomponent (DC offset). The transmitted signal 105A applied to the Leftand transmitted signal 105B applied to the Right audio channel may bedifferent or identical. In the preferred embodiment of the detector,ideally, the vector summation of the transmitted signal 105A applied tothe Left audio channel and the transmitted signal 105B applied to theRight audio channel must be zero. Practically, the transmitter coil 101Aconnected to the Left and the transmitter coil 101B connected to theRight audio channel are not identical. So, The output audio signals areadjusted in a way to compensate for the imperfection in the coils, tominimize the signal in the receiver coil. For an example, two sinusoidalsignals with the same frequency and 180 degree phase shift can beapplied to the Left and Right transmitter coils and the ratio betweenthe amplitude of two signals are adjusted in a way that minimizes theamplitude of the voltage in the receiver coil.

Three coils of the detector embodiment shown in FIG. 5A including twotransmitter coils and one receiver coil may have any random orientationwith respect to each other. For example all three coils may becompletely separate or may be placed in the same plane or differentplanes or at least two of them may have overlap with each other or allthree may have mutual overlap. In the preferred embodiments of thedetector:

(a) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,) and coils mayhave any size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in the preferably (but notnecessarily) same plane and the receiver coil is placed in another planepreferably (but not necessarily) parallel with the plane of transmittercoils. Two transmitter coils are completely separate. In top view, bothtransmitter coils have an overlap with the receiver coil as shown inFIG. 6A. The coils are not necessarily aligned in the same line, forexample the receiver coil 102 may be positioned above the shown place(in +Y direction). The distance between the coil 102 and the transmittercoils are not necessarily the same and the diameter and the size ofcoils are not necessarily equal or similar.

(b) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,) and coils mayhave any size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in the preferably (but notnecessarily) same plane and the receiver coil is placed in another planepreferably (but not necessarily) parallel with the plane of transmittercoils. Two transmitter coils have a common side. In top view, bothtransmitter coils have an overlap with the receiver coil as shown inFIG. 6B. The coils are not necessarily aligned in the same line, forexample the receiver coil 102 may be positioned above the shown place(in +Y direction). The distance between the coil 102 and the transmittercoils are not necessarily the same and the diameter and the size ofcoils are not necessarily equal or similar.

(c) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,) and coils mayhave any size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in different preferably (butnot necessarily) parallel planes and the receiver coil is placed in aplane different than the plane of any of the transmitter coils. Theplane of receiver coil is preferably (but not necessarily) parallel tothe plane of one of the transmitter coils. In the top view, twotransmitter coils have an overlap with each other and both transmittercoils have overlap with the receiver coil as shown in FIG. 6C. The coilsare not necessarily aligned in the same line, for example the receivercoil 102 may be positioned above the shown place (in +Y direction). Thedistance between the coil 102 and the transmitter coils are notnecessarily the same and the diameter and the size of coils are notnecessarily equal or similar.

(d) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K) and coils may haveany size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in the preferably (but notnecessarily) same plane and the receiver coil is placed in another planepreferably (but not necessarily) parallel with the plane of transmittercoils. Two transmitter coils are completely separate. In top view, thereceiver coil surrounds at least one of the transmitter coils as shownin FIG. 6D. The coils are not necessarily aligned in the same line, forexample the receiver coil 102 may be positioned above the shown place(in +Y direction). The distance between the coil 102 and the transmittercoils are not necessarily the same and the diameter and the size ofcoils are not necessarily equal or similar.

(e) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K) and coils may haveany size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in the preferably (but notnecessarily) same plane and the receiver coil is placed in another planepreferably (but not necessarily) parallel with the plane of transmittercoils. Two transmitter coils have a common side. In top view, thereceiver coil surrounds at least one of the transmitter coils as shownin FIG. 6E. The coils are not necessarily aligned in the same line, forexample the receiver coil 102 may be positioned above the shown place(in +Y direction). The distance between the coil 102 and the transmittercoils are not necessarily the same and the diameter and the size ofcoils are not necessarily equal or similar.

(f) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K) and coils may haveany size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in different preferably (butnot necessarily) parallel planes and the receiver coil is placed in aplane different than the plane of any of the transmitter coils. Theplane of receiver coil is preferably (but not necessarily) parallel tothe plane of one of the transmitter coils. In top view, two transmittercoils have an overlap and the receiver coil surrounds at least one ofthe transmitter coils as shown in FIG. 6F. The coils are not necessarilyaligned in the same line, for example the receiver coil 102 may bepositioned above the shown place (in +Y direction). The distance betweenthe coil 102 and the transmitter coils are not necessarily the same andthe diameter and the size of coils are not necessarily equal or similar.

(g) All three coils may have any wire winding as shown in figures FIG.1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shapeand area of the coils' wires may have any shape and value, and threecoils may have any shape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C,FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K,(for example if the coil is shown as a circle in this Figure, it is notnecessarily circle, it might be semi-circle, rectangle or any othershape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K) and coils may haveany size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. Two transmitter coils are placed in different preferably (butnot necessarily) parallel planes. The plane of receiver coil ispreferably (but not necessarily) equal or parallel to the plane of oneof the transmitter coils. In the top view, two transmitter coils have anoverlap with each other and at least one of the transmitter coilssurround the receiver coil as shown in FIG. 6G. The coils are notnecessarily aligned in the same line, for example the receiver coil 102may be positioned above the shown place (in +Y direction). The distancebetween the coil 102 and the transmitter coils are not necessarily thesame and the diameter and the size of coils are not necessarily equal orsimilar.

For its deep detection depth and simplicity, the detector embodiment ofFIG. 5B is also preferred. In the detector embodiment as shown in FIG.5B a sound player/recorder device 104 with at least a stereo (twochannel) audio output is employed. The Left output channel and the Rightoutput channel energize the transmitting coil 101.

It must be noted that in all embodiments explained above, All coils mayhave any wire winding as shown in figures FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C,FIG. 1D, and the thickness and cross section shape and area of thecoils' wires may have any shape and value, and three coils may have anyshape as shown in figures FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, FIG. 2E,FIG. 2F, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 2I, FIG. 2J, FIG. 2K, and coils may haveany size, not necessarily the same size, even if shown equal in theFigure. As an example, FIG. 6H shows an embodiment analogous to theembodiment of FIG. 6A because in includes two transmitter coil separatefrom each other that both have overlap with an arbitrary shaped receivercoil.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B the absolute value of the phaseor amplitude of the received signal 106 or the variation of the phase oramplitude of the received signal 106 is an indicator for existence of ametal in proximity of the coils. The direction of the phase shift of thereceived signal 106 and/or the amount of the phase shift and/or theamount of amplitude change in single or multiple frequencies are usedfor discrimination of the metal type and approximation of its materialstructure and estimation of the target distance.

FIG. 7 shows an example of practical embodiment for the detectorstructure shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. In this example the soundplayer/recorder device 104 is a smart-phone. The transmitter coils 101and receiver coil 102 are made on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 109 andthey have the wire winding structure of FIG. 1B. The wires of the coilsare connected to the headset port of the smart-phone via a 4 pin audiojack 110. The PCB 109 as shown in FIG. 7 is a two-layer board. In apractical design, more turns of wires or wires with larger cross sectionarea may be needed for either of the transmitters or receiver coils.Hence, a multi-layer (more than two layers) PCB may be used. In thatcase, wire winding in different layers of the PCB may be combined (in aseries or parallel connection) to form a larger coil. At least one ofthe coils can also be manufactured outside of the PCB. For example, thereceiver coil can be formed as a spool of magnet wires that are solderedto the PCB 109.

The detector structure can also be practiced using a soundplayer/recorder device 104 with one or more than one input channel(s)and or one or more than one output channel(s). M output channel(s) ofthe sound player/recorder device 104 and N input channel(s) of the soundplayer/recorder device 104 can be used in the detector's embodiment,where M is equal or smaller than the total output channel(s) of thesound player/recorder device 104 and N is equal or smaller than thetotal input channel(s) of the sound player/recorder device 104.

M output channels of the sound player/recorder device 104 can bedirectly connected to at least M transmitting coil(s) 101 or they can beconnected to the transmitting coils via optional transmitter interfacedevice(s) 107. It must be noted that M transmitting coil(s) are notnecessarily identical and each coil can also be a series or parallelcombination of more than one coil.

The transmitted signal(s) 105 applied to the output channel(s) may haveany waveform of Sinusoidal, square, rectangle, triangle, pulse, ramp,saw-tooth, or any arbitrary wave form. The said transmitted signal(s)may have a single constant frequency or may have a time varyingfrequency, or may be composed of a combinations of more than one signalswith the same or different frequencies or same or different phases orsame or different amplitude or any arbitrary periodic or time-varyingwave function. The said transmitted signal(s) may also include a DCcomponent (DC offset). The transmitted signal(s) 105 applied to M outputaudio channel(s) may be different or identical. M output channel(s) ofthe device 104 can also be categorized in one or more similar ordifferent cluster(s) of similar coils. Ideally, the vector summation ofthe transmitted signals 105 applied to all coils of each cluster iszero. The signal of the receiver coil(s) can be independently measuredusing input channel(s) of the device 104, or each group of receivercoils can form a cluster comprising a series or parallel connection ofreceiver coils and the signal of the cluster is measured by one inputchannel. Each single receiver coil or each cluster of input coils can bedirectly connected to the input channel(s) or an optional receiverinterface device 108 can be placed between each single receiver coil orcluster and the sound player/recorder input channel.

Practical values for the used numbers of output channel(s) of the soundplayer/recorder device 104 can be any number between 1 and 32 and above32 (M=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, M>32). Practicalvalues for the used numbers of input channel(s) of the soundplayer/recorder device 104 can be any number between 1 and 32 and above32 (N=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, N>32). Highernumbers of input or output channels can be employed for more precisedetection, covering a larger area without missing the sensitivity forsmall objects, pinpointing, power saving, target depth estimation, andtarget size estimation. For an example, FIG. 8 shows a complexembodiment with M=4 and N=2. In this embodiment, transmitting coils101-a, 101-b, 101-c, 101-d are connected to 4 input channels of thedevice 104 and the receiver coil 102-c is connected to one of the inputchannels of the device 104 and a series combination of receiving coils102-a and 102-b is connected to the other input channel of the device104 (winding direction of the coil 102-a is apposite of the windingdirection of the coil 102-b). Transmitting coils 101-a, 101-b, and 101-care forming a cluster. Three sinusoidal signals with 120 degree phasedifference, the same frequency, and similar (but not necessarily thesame due to the imperfection in manufacturing of the coils) amplitudeare applied to transmitting coils 101-a, 101-b, and 101-c. Anothertransmitted signal with lower frequency is applied to the transmittingcoil 101-d. The signal in the receiving coil 102-c and the signal in thecluster of coil 102-a and coil 102-b is measured. In this embodiment,smaller coils make more sensitivity to the smaller object and largercoils provide a longer range for the larger object, the detector alsohas both advantages of low frequency and high frequency measurements. Insuch a system, the output signals can be sent to the transmitter coilsat the same time or in different time sequences for betterdiscrimination and localization and pin pointing.

The sound player/recorder device 104 used in the detector device and thedetection method of this invention may only play a sound file, or it mayrun an app that sends desired signal to the output channel(s) andmeasures the signal received to the input channel(s) of the soundplayer/recorder device 104.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or thesaid app of the detector can use the GPS modules of the soundplayer/recorder device 104 to find the acceleration, speed, or locationof the detector device or the location of the detected object.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the accelerometer or gyroscope device of thesound player/recorder device 104 to measure the position, movement,velocity, or acceleration of the coils for noise filtering and improvingthe measurement accuracy.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the vibrator of the sound player/recorderdevice 104 to alarm or indicate the detection of an object.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the speaker of the sound player/recorderdevice 104 to notify, alarm or indicate the detection of an object.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the Bluetooth or WiFi module of the soundplayer/recorder device 104 to communicate with an external device suchas a wireless headphone to indicate the detection of an object or sendthe size, shape, distance, and material information of the detectedobject to the external alarm or display devices.

The detector device or the detection method or said app of the detectorof this invention can use the display or keyboard or touch screen of thesound player/recorder device 104 to receive the input parameters or showthe measurement results of the detector.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the processor and processing capabilities ofthe sound player/recorder device 104 to send the transmitted signal(s)to the output channel(s) and receive and process the received signal(s)to the input channel(s) of the sound player/recorder device 104.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the memories of the sound player/recorderdevice 104 to record the location data, information about the detectedobjects, or pictures or videos taken from the environment wile using thedetector device.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can use the camera of the sound player/recorderdevice 104 to record and save videos or take or save pictures from thedetected objects, the user, the detector, or environment.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can measures the distance and/or displacement and/orvelocity and/or linear vibration of at least one coil with respect tothe other by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in theamplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of received signal while thedistance between two coils varies.

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can measure the angular position and/or angulardisplacement and/or rotational speed and/or angular vibration of onecoil with respect to another coil by measuring the absolute value and/orvariation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of a receivedsignal while the angle between two coils varies.nal 106 while the anglebetween said receiver coil 102 and said transmitter coil 101 varies

The detector device or the detection method of this invention or saidapp of the detector can measure the distance and/or displacement and/orvelocity and/or angular position and/or angular displacement and/orrotational speed and/or vibration of a metal and/or magnetic and/orconductive object in proximity of coils by measuring the absolute valueand/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of saidreceived signal.

1. A detector device for metal and/or conductor detection and/or conductivity measurement and/or linear distance or velocity measurement and/or rotational position or speed measurement using at least an audio channel of a sound playing/recording device including cell-phone, smart-phone, tablet, laptop, and/or devices with internal processor that are capable of playing and/or recording sound, wherein said detector device comprises: at least a transmitter coil with one grounded lead and the other lead energized by at least one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or at least a transmitter coil energized by at least two of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device wherein each lead of said transmitter coil is connected to one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 and having one common grounded lead and the other lead of each said transmitter coil is connected to one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said transmitter coil is connected to two of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said transmitter coil has multiple center tap or middle tap wherein each side or middle lead of each transmitter coil is connected to one of the audio output channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein each transmitter coil and said sound playing device have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: the output channel of said sound playing/recording device is connected to said transmitter coil; or said transmitted signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said sound playing/recording device and said transmitter coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said sound playing/recording device and said transmitter coil, at least a receiver coil, wherein said receiver coil receives a received signal, wherein at least a signal measurement device measures amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of a voltage or current or power or energy of said received signal, wherein said signal measurement device comprises: an analog or digital volt meter, or amp meter, or power meter, or energy meter, or phase meter or it may be any actuator or indicator that indicates the existence or variation of a voltage or current or power or energy in receiver coil with respect to the ground or with respect to said transmitted signal, wherein said receiver coil and said signal measurement device have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: the signal measurement device is connected to said receiver coil; or said received signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said signal measurement device and said receiver coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said signal measurement device and said receiver coil.
 2. The detector device of claim 1, wherein said detector device is a metal detector and/or conductor detector and/or magnetic material detector that detects targets by measuring absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal.
 3. The detector device of claim 2, wherein said detector device determines the type of said target material, wherein said detector device stores the absolute values and/or variation of the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency signature of each material and compares said received signal with stored signature data to match said targets with most similar materials.
 4. The detector device of claim 1, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or linear vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the distance between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 5. The detector device of claim 1, wherein said detector device measures the angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or angular vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the angle between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 6. The detector device of claim 1, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or vibration of a metal and/or magnetic and/or conductive object in proximity of said receiver coil and said transmitter coil by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal.
 7. A detector device for metal and/or conductor detection and/or conductivity measurement and/or linear distance or velocity measurement and/or rotational position or speed measurement using at least an audio channel of a sound playing/recording device including cell-phone, smart-phone, tablet, laptop, and/or devices with internal processor that are capable of playing and/or recording sound, wherein said detector device comprises: at least a transmitter coil energized with at least one signal generator wherein each transmitter coil and said signal generator have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: said signal generator is connected to said transmitter coil; or said transmitted signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said signal generator and said transmitter coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said signal generator and said transmitter coil, at least a receiver coil, wherein said receiver coil receives a received signal, wherein the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of a voltage or current or power or energy of said received signal is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device, wherein said receiver coil has one grounded lead and the other lead is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device; or at least a receiver coil is being measured by at least two audio input channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein each lead of said receiver coil is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 and having one common grounded lead and the other lead of each said receiver coil is connected to one of the input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said receiver coil is connected to two of the input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said receiver coil has multiple center tap or middle tap wherein each side or middle lead of each receiver coil is connected to one of the audio input channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein said receiver coil and said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: Said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device is connected to said receiver coil; or said received signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device and said receiver coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device and said receiver coil.
 8. The detector device of claim 7, wherein said detector device is a metal detector and/or conductor detector and/or magnetic material detector that detects targets by measuring absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal.
 9. The detector device of claim 8, wherein said detector device determines the type of said target material, wherein said detector device stores the absolute values and/or variation of the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency signature of each material and compares said received signal with stored signature data to match said targets with most similar materials.
 10. The detector device of claim 7, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or linear vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the distance between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 11. The detector device of claim 7, wherein said detector device measures the angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or angular vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the angle between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 12. The detector device of claim 7, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or vibration of a metal and/or magnetic and/or conductive object in proximity of said receiver coil and said transmitter coil by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal.
 13. A detector device for metal and/or conductor detection and/or conductivity measurement and/or linear distance or velocity measurement and/or rotational position or speed measurement using at least an audio channel of a sound playing/recording device including cell-phone, smart-phone, tablet, laptop, and/or devices with internal processor that are capable of playing and/or recording sound, wherein said detector device comprises: at least a transmitter coil with one grounded lead and the other lead energized by at least one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or at least a transmitter coil energized by at least two of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device wherein each lead of said transmitter coil is connected to one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 and having one common grounded lead and the other lead of each said transmitter coil is connected to one of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said transmitter coil is connected to two of the output audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple transmitter coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said transmitter coil has multiple center tap or middle tap wherein each side or middle lead of each transmitter coil is connected to one of the audio output channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein each transmitter coil and said sound playing device have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: the output channel of said sound playing/recording device is connected to said transmitter coil; or said transmitted signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said sound playing/recording device and said transmitter coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said sound playing/recording device and said transmitter coil, at least a receiver coil, wherein said receiver coil receives a received signal, wherein the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of a voltage or current or power or energy of said received signal is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device, wherein said receiver coil has one grounded lead and the other lead is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device; or at least a receiver coil is being measured by at least two audio input channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein each lead of said receiver coil is being measured by at least one audio input channel of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 and having one common grounded lead and the other lead of each said receiver coil is connected to one of the input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said receiver coil is connected to two of the input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device; or multiple receiver coils with any numbers from 1 to 32 wherein each said receiver coil has multiple center tap or middle tap wherein each side or middle lead of each receiver coil is connected to one of the audio input channels of said sound playing/recording device, wherein said receiver coil and said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device have interface connections or combinations there of comprising: Said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device is connected to said receiver coil; or said received signal is amplified; or an impedance matching system is placed between said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device and said receiver coil; or a frequency multiplier or frequency shifter system is placed between said input audio channels of said sound playing/recording device and said receiver coil.
 14. The detector device of claim 13, wherein said detector device is a metal detector and/or conductor detector and/or magnetic material detector that detects targets by measuring absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal.
 15. The detector device of claim 14, wherein said detector device determines the type of said target material, wherein said detector device stores the absolute values and/or variation of the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency signature of each material and compares said received signal with stored signature data to match said targets with most similar materials.
 16. The detector device of claim 13, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or linear vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the distance between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 17. The detector device of claim 13, wherein said detector device measures the angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or angular vibration by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal while the angle between said receiver coil and said transmitter coil varies.
 18. The detector device of claim 13, wherein said detector device measures the distance and/or displacement and/or velocity and/or angular position and/or angular displacement and/or rotational speed and/or vibration of a metal and/or magnetic and/or conductive object in proximity of said receiver coil and said transmitter coil by measuring the absolute value and/or variation in the amplitude and/or phase and/or frequency of said received signal. 